Frost Dates for 67871 — Scott City, Kansas

Half of springs at Scott City, KS see their last 32°F night by April 30; only one in ten is past it by April 14, and one in ten still has one after May 13. Planting tender crops after May 5 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 8 20%, and after May 13 10%. The 13 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 65% of the 110 Kansas stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 15 in half of years, as early as October 1 one year in ten, and holds off past October 26 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 8 days later, around October 23; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 4, 9 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 167 days in a typical year, shorter than at 94% of the 110 Kansas stations; it reaches 185 days one year in ten and falls short of 148 one year in ten. On average 154 nights a year drop to 32°F or below. Nights of 36°F, when frost can still settle on leaves in low, open spots, continue 8 days longer, to about May 8, and return around October 5. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 17 and March 16.

July is the warmest month at Scott City, KS, averaging 93°F by day and 63°F at night; January is the coldest at 44°F and 16°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from October to April (a 90% chance or more). From June to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, May still brings one in 44% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,653 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 91% of the 110 Kansas stations. 34% of them (1,247) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 866. Precipitation totals 20.3 inches a year, most in June (3.2") and least in January (0.4"); May to September bring 67% of it.

The nearest other station, Leoti, KS, 23 miles west of Scott City and 335 feet higher, has a last frost 2 days later (May 2), a first frost 3 days earlier (October 12), a season 6 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Scott City usually arrives around November 15, and the last of the season around March 19. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Scott City, KS, 1.2 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Every one of those winters saw snow. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 42 days after the last snow.

ZIP 67871 is 1 mile from Scott City, KS, which stands at 2,974 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 67871 in zone 6a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged -10 to -5°F (-23.3 to -20.6°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.